Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage said he missed seeing Neeraj Chopra compete at the Asian Games, describing the Indian star’s absence as “bad luck” after an ankle injury forced him out of the continental event.Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist, was unable to defend the Asian Games men’s javelin gold he won in the previous edition in China after suffering an ankle ligament tear during training last month.Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyPathirage made the most of Chopra’s absence, producing a winning throw of 88.55m with his sixth and final attempt to claim gold at the rain-affected Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Monday.India’s Yashvir Singh, who replaced the injured Chopra in the athletics team, took silver with a personal best of 85.72m, while Rohit Yadav secured bronze with 84.35m.“Yeah, he had a little injury on the ankle after Lausanne Diamond League. It’s his bad luck,” the 23-year-old Pathirage told PTI when asked if he was missing Chopra after the event.“I do sometimes speak to him (Chopra),” he added.
Pathirage and Chopra’s changing fortunes
Pathirage and Chopra have shared the field at major competitions, with the Indian also inviting the Sri Lankan to compete at the inaugural NC Classic javelin competition in Bengaluru in July last year.Chopra won that event with a throw of 86.18m, while Pathirage finished third with 84.34m.The results have been very different this year.Pathirage has won all three competitions in which Chopra competed. He began by winning the Doha Diamond League in June, where Chopra finished fourth. The Sri Lankan then claimed gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with Chopra taking silver.The pattern continued at the Lausanne Diamond League in August, where Pathirage finished first and Chopra was second.Pathirage has also been in remarkable form throughout the season, recording three throws beyond 90m. He has finished first in 13 of the 14 events he has competed in this year, with a second-place finish in the remaining competition.His list of titles includes four Diamond League meetings, the Diamond League Final, World Athletics Ultimate Championships, Commonwealth Games and now the Asian Games.Despite the dominance, Pathirage insisted there was no elaborate secret behind his success.“No secret, just normal training every year,” he said when asked about his form and three 90m-plus throws this season.
‘Yashvir and Rohit are very good’
Pathirage also praised the two Indian throwers who shared the podium with him in Chopra’s absence.“Yashvir and Rohit are very good. His average throw has been 85m. Maybe, I think, next year, Yashvir and Rohit can produce big throws for India.”The result completed a South Asian sweep of the men’s javelin medals at both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.For Pathirage, however, the winning throw fell short of what he had hoped to achieve.“The conditions were not good due to rain.”“I could not get proper grip of my javelin. I had wanted to break the Games record and Asian record but I could not go for my massive throws like 90m.“But I am happy to be the first-ever Sri Lankan javelin throw gold medal winner at the Asian Games.”
World Championships and LA Olympics next
Pathirage has already turned his attention towards his next major targets.“My next target is World Championship next year and then 2028 LA Olympics.”The Sri Lankan made his World Championships debut last year but believes he will enter the next edition with greater experience.“I competed for the first time in the World Championships last year, when I had less experience. Now, I have some experience and let us see what happens. I will give my best.”
